“Donald’s wife, Mary, had a twin brother, also a Donald; Mary’s age on the marriage certificate was misrecorded as 19 – she was only 18; Mary was not at Donald’s house on the night of the 1901 census – she may already have been sick and staying with her parents, since by this time, her father was a Physician and Surgeon; Mary died at the age of 26 on 8 October 1902, in Castlebay where she was staying with her parents – her Dad was the Medical Officer on Barra. She died of rheumatism and pericarditis – not of a pregnancy-related cause as one would have expected with someone her age; Donald died in Duirinish where he was living with his nephew, Tom Shields. Donald and Mary had no children. Donald was born on 9 October 1849 in Craignish.” Colin MacCallum, 2017

Small clear glass bottle embossed with ELLIMAN’S EMBROCATION. The embrocation (lotion) was first formulated by James Elliman of Slough in 1847 as a muscle rub for animals. It was later sold for use on people, and become famous as an aid for aching muscles and joints. Found around Donald Brown’s house at Vaul.

Transcripts of maritime records of the MacKinnons of Heanish, particularly Captain Donald MacKinnon who sailed the Taeping to victory in the Great China Tea Race of 1866. Researched by Robert Nisbet, Heanish. (1) ‘Captain Donald MacKinnon Timeline’, 1866-1867: dates and summaries of key events from the start of Great China Tea Race to Captain MacKinnon’s death in South Africa, (2) log of RMS Roman, 1867, detailing death of Captain MacKinnon and listing the belongings found in his cabin, (3) details of the estate of Captain Donald MacKinnon, 1867, (4) details of Tiree mariners, 1808-1886, (5) photocopied voyages record of Captain Donald MacKinnon, 1851-1867, from the National Archives in Kew, (6) details from the seaman’s tickets of Angus MacKinnon (b. 1831) and Colin MacKinnon (b. 1834).

Photograph of a page from a notebook from around 1850-1930, with sketches by Ben B MacKinnon, a photograph of old Helensburgh, and a handwritten poem ‘Your Place’, with Mary H Beattie signed in the corner. The notebook was owned by a relation of the MacKinnon / MacLean family of Balephuil who ran the shop there.

Photograph of a page from a notebook from around 1850-1930, with sketches, a photograph of a young man, and a handwritten poem ‘My Place’ by Ben B MacKinnon, 1903. The notebook was owned by a relation of the MacKinnon / MacLean family of Balephuil who ran the shop there.

Photograph of a page from a notebook from around 1850-1930, with the names and addresses of family members. The notebook was owned by a relation of the MacKinnon / MacLean family of Balephuil who ran the shop there.

Photograph of a page from a notebook onto which 16 small sepia portraits have been stuck, from around 1850-1930. The notebook was owned by a relation of the MacKinnon / MacLean family of Balephuil who ran the shop there, and the photos are probably of that family.

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